WREXHAM moved back into second spot in the North West Conference of the Puma Youth Alliance with this victory over Port Vale at the Racecourse today.
Goals from Obi Anoruo and George Stewart secured the points and returned us to second spot above Carlisle United, but the lads did make hard work of the win.
It was the home side that made the early running from the kick-off and twice went close.
First when Mark Head saw a 20-yard effort whistle just inches over the Vale crossbar and then there seemed decent appeals for a penalty for handball following a Wrexham corner.
This pressure bore fruit on just six minutes, when a Matty Hurdman free kick from the left was touched home by Obi Anoruo at the near post.
The visitors responded well and came close to equalising, but there were just 15 minutes on the clock when the Reds extended their lead.
Winger George Stewart played a one-two with Obi on the corner of the Vale box and when he picked up the returned the Irishman fired a low shot across the keeper and inside the far post.
How there was no further scoring remains a mystery, as both sides passed up chance after chance.
Both Vale forwards missed openings when well placed, but it was the Wrexham strikers who were particularly guilty of wasting chances.
First Obi missed a free header from a Stewart cross when completely free inside the six-yard box, but then Head somehow scuffed what would have been a tap in following good work by Obi on the flank.
At the interval Joey Jones reminded the lads that if Port Vale pulled one back then they could well get the upper hand.
Just three minutes into the second period, Kai Edwards got a header that crashed against the crossbar and as the ball came back down Obi thought he had scored with a follow up header, but the linesman ruled that his effort had been saved by the Vale keeper without crossing the goal line.
Injuries then hit Luke Carding, who got a kick to his right knee, before Kai Edwards turned his ankle - both players were taken off immediately.
Vale crashed a shot against the Wrexham woodwork from well outside the box and keeper Staples pulled off a marvellous one-handed save when left facing an opponent.
We were hanging on a little at the end, but the two goal cushion ensured a ninth win of the season.
Wrexham: Danny Staples, Jack Jones, Johnny Hunt, Leon Clowes, Kai Edwards (Declan Walker 52), Rob Pearson, George Stewart (Ed Moss 78), Matt Hurdman, Obi Anoruo, Mark Head, Luke Carding (Nick Rushton 50).
Subs: Jordan Kane
|
|
North West Conference |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Agt |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
Burnley |
11 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
41 |
14 |
+27 |
31 |
|
2 |
Wrexham |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
26 |
11 |
+15 |
29 |
|
3 |
Carlisle United |
11 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
27 |
11 |
+16 |
26 |
|
4 |
Oldham Athletic |
11 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
30 |
14 |
+16 |
22 |
|
5 |
Tranmere Rovers |
12 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
26 |
17 |
+9 |
21 |
|
6 |
Walsall |
12 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
24 |
22 |
+2 |
19 |
|
7 |
Port Vale |
12 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
26 |
24 |
+2 |
18 |
|
8 |
Preston North End |
11 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
25 |
19 |
+6 |
17 |
|
9 |
Stockport County |
12 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
18 |
23 |
-5 |
17 |
|
10 |
Rochdale |
9 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
17 |
18 |
-1 |
16 |
|
11 |
Bury |
11 |
5 |
0 |
6 |
26 |
25 |
+1 |
15 |
|
12 |
Wigan Athletic |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
13 |
16 |
-3 |
15 |
|
13 |
Macclesfield Town |
12 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
20 |
-5 |
12 |
|
14 |
Shrewsbury Town |
12 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
11 |
19 |
-8 |
12 |
|
15 |
Chester City |
11 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
15 |
26 |
-11 |
7 |
|
16 |
Blackpool |
10 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
10 |
21 |
-11 |
7 |
|
17 |
Morecambe |
10 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
11 |
36 |
-25 |
4 |
|
18 |
Accrington Stanley |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
29 |
-25 |
0 |
As at Wednesday, 19 December 2008
